EPL Table: 2016 Premier League Standings After Sunday’s Week 3 Matches

Manchester City went top of the Premier League on goal difference after beating West Ham United at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday. The 3-1 win showcased the best of manager Pep Guardiola’s expansive footballing philosophy, along with City’s considerable talent in forward areas.

It’s a combination that has taken the Citizens above Chelsea and Manchester United on goal difference.

Earlier, West Bromwich Albion were held to a 0-0 draw at home by Middlesbrough. The stalemate earned each a valuable point, but the game was short of incident and attacking intent.

Here’s what the table looks like with three weeks of the new season now in the books:

Recap

City were made to work for all three points, despite absolutely bossing the first half. Some of the football from the hosts was awe-inspiring.

City merited particular credit for how quickly and intelligently they passed the ball. Exchanges were always of the one- and two-touch variety, housed in neat triangles that constantly rotated across the final third.

It didn’t take long for the Citizens to make the breakthrough, with Raheem Sterling slotting in the first inside the opening 10 minutes. Sterling has been much-improved so far this season, but it was the goal provider who caught the eye of James Robson of the Manchester Evening News:

Plenty of talk about Sterling this season – but how good has Nolito been? Added a new dimension to City

— James Robson (@JamesRobsonMEN) August 28, 2016

The home side looked to be coasting when Fernandinho’s header made it 2-0 with barely 18 minutes gone. However, the expected torrent of goals never came from City.

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